Minnesota Vikings Trying to Avoid Repeat of Met Stadium Finale at Metrodome’s Final Game

That was the scene the last time the Minnesota Vikings moved out of a Twin Cities sports venue – December, 21, 1981 – the final game at Met Stadium, and as you can see, things got just a bit out of hand.

And at the final gun thousands of people stormed the field. The goal posts came down first, on both ends of the field. Set upon and devoured, components of the goal posts were then paraded around the turf as the thieves wondered what in the world to do with such bounty. Or what to do with the iron railings that were worked on by gangs who bent them this way and that until they broke? Or what to do with toilet seats or trash barrels?

The field itself was attacked, but it is virtually impossible for even the foulest perpetrator to tear frozen sod from the earth. No one was bold enough to bring a jackhammer into the stadium. Smaller instruments of destruction included wrenches and industrial strength wire cutters.

How bad was it that day?

Fans ripped down the American flag from the stadium’s center field pole DURING the fourth quarter.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 1: A general view of Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome during the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears on December 1, 2013 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bear 23-20 in overtime. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Fast forward 32 years and eight days to the finale of the Vikings second home, the Metrodome, Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Lions.

Authorities are trying a couple of different approaches to avoid another ugly scene: beefing up security at the stadium and giving fans souvenirs from the final game in the hopes they won’t need to destroy the building to get some of their own.

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